Tehran [Iran], May 4 (ANI): The Iranian military has asserted that “the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in the hands of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and that any safe passage and navigation in any situation will be carried out in coordination with the armed forces.”
According to Al Jazeera, the statement serves as a direct challenge to Washington’s escalating naval presence in the region.
The official military communiqué, circulated by Iranian state media, appears to be a pointed response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent declaration of a naval mission. The U.S. operation, intended to guide stranded vessels out of the strategic waterway, is reportedly scheduled to commence within hours.
The mission, titled “Project Freedom,” was announced by Trump to assist commercial vessels currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday (local time), Trump said various nations had requested American assistance to ensure their ships could safely navigate out of the strategic waterway.
Trump said these requests came from “countries from all over the world, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly and violently for all to see.”
He said these nations had asked whether the United States could “help free up their ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with.”
Asserting that Washington would step in to guarantee safe passage, Trump said the move was “for the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States.”
He added that American forces “will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”
However, Tehran issued a warning to global shipping interests.
“We will maintain and manage the security of the Strait of Hormuz with all our might, and we announce to all commercial ships and tankers to refrain from any action to transit without coordination with the armed forces stationed in the Strait of Hormuz so that their security is not jeopardized,” the Iranian army said.
The Iranian leadership is positioning its forces as the sole authority over the chokepoint, with Al Jazeera reporting that any breach of this perceived sovereignty could trigger a kinetic response.
The military added, “We warn that any foreign armed force, especially the aggressive U.S. Army, will be attacked if they attempt to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz.”
Despite these threats, Trump emphasized that “Project Freedom” focuses on ships from regions “that are not in any way involved with what is currently taking place in the Middle East.”
He said he had instructed representatives to convey that the U.S. “will use best efforts to get their ships and crews safely out of the Strait.”
Once these vessels have cleared the area, Trump said they are expected to stay away for the foreseeable future, noting that “they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation and everything else.”
The mission is scheduled to commence Monday morning (Middle East time).
Trump described the initiative as a way to “free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong,” referring to the crews as “victims of circumstance.”
He called the mission a “humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern countries, but in particular, the country of Iran,” highlighting deteriorating conditions aboard the vessels.
“Many of these ships are running low on food and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner,” he said.
However, Trump warned that any interference with the mission would be met with force.
The maritime initiative comes as Trump said U.S. officials are engaged in “very positive discussions” with Tehran, suggesting the talks “could lead to something very positive for all,” even as he rejected Iran’s latest proposal as “not acceptable.”
In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that Tehran is reviewing Washington’s reply to its proposal.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the proposal seeks an end to hostilities on multiple fronts, including Lebanon, while calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the release of frozen assets, and the lifting of sanctions.
While the United States has advocated for a two-month ceasefire, Iran is reportedly pushing for a shorter 30-day window, prioritizing a permanent end to the conflict over a temporary truce.
Al Jazeera noted that the rhetoric from the Iranian military underscores the volatile nature of the standoff as both nations deploy significant assets to the Gulf. (ANI)
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